86 THE CARPENTER OF THE WOODS. 
dioTis; and as making holes is such easy 
work, they will often scoop out as many as 
twenty before they decide which to live in. 
The birds of the forest find it very con- 
venient to settle themselves in these deserted 
holes. But sometimes they watch him while 
he is boring ; and the moment he has done, 
they fall upon him, drive him away, and 
take possession of his dwelling. This is very 
sad treatment ; but the poor woodpecker 
often undergoes still worse. The black snake 
will glide up the trunk, and make its way 
into his peaceful abode. It sucks the eggs, 
or devours the young ones, in spite of the 
cries and flutterings of the parent birds ; and 
then, if the hole is large enough, the black 
snake coils itself round, and settles there with- 
out any scruple. 
The note of the great woodpecker is shrill 
like a clarion ; and can be heard a long way 
off. His strength is prodigious, as you' may 
judge from the masses of bark that he slices 
off the trees. And his perseverance is as 
great as his strength ; for all day long he keeps 
on his hanunering blows. 
A traveller once shot at one of these great 
